Suppling method and apparatus



Oct. 18, 1960 TZ 7 2,956,427

SUPPLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIOR l terAfilatz ATTORNEY5 Oct. 18, 1960 BLATZ 2,956,427

SUPPLING METHOD AND APPARATUS INVENTOR Pete1"A.B Latz gmm I ATTORNEYS P. A. BLATZ Oct. 18, 1960 SUPPLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 INVENTOR Fe t7"A .B LatZ BY M W ATTORNEYS 1960 P. A. BLATZ ,956,427

SUPPLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7? INVENTOR PeterA .B lcd'z ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1960 P. A. BLATZ SUPPLING METHOD AND APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 26, 1957 INVENTOR PeterA .B Latz BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent SUPPLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Peter A. Blatz, Wilmington, Del., assignor of one-third to Ellen B. Jenkins, La Grange, Ill., one-third to May B. Simon, Hendersonville, N.C., and one-third to Elizabeth B. Kane, Kaolin-Avondale, Pa.

Filed Sept. 26, 1957, Set. N0. 686,415

24 Claims. 01. 69-33) This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for suppling or stretching sheet material, and more particularly relates to a novel method and apparatus for suppling or stretching leather.

The Staking process has long been utilized by the leather manufacturing industry for the purpose of softening and mellowing leather skins. A characteristic element of staking operations as they have been heretofore performed is a relative frictional or scraping movement between the leather and a sharp-edged blade as a pull is applied to the leather. This scraping movement has been a characteristic element of both the original hand staking operation as well as that performed by existing staking machinery whose operation has generally imitated the manual process in which leather is pulled between the hands of an operator across a sharp-edged blade While the skin is tensioned by pressure applied by the knee.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for stretching or suppling sheet material, particularly leather, which lends itself to eflicient performance by means of automatic machinery.

In accordance with this invention, sheet material is stretched and suppled by applying opposing forces substantially perpendicular to the material upon opposite sides of the material. These forces are applied in spaced zones upon one side of the material and in zones upon the other side of the material in line with and in between these spaced zones to anchor the parts of said material disposed in the path of the opposed forces which meet at the spaced zones and to force the material disposed between these spaced zones out in the direction of the forces applied in between these spaced zones. This stretches and supples the lengths of sheet material disposed between the anchored parts. These opposing forces are applied, for example, by substantially rigid projecting elements disposed on one side of the material and a flexible body disposed on the other side of the material. This flexible body provides the aforementioned opposed forces disposed in both spaced and intermediate zones upon the other side of the sheet material.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is'a schematic diagram in elevation of one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view in elevation of still another embodiment of this invention;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are plan views of portions of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view in elevation of a further embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of a modified portion of the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 7;

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Fig. 9 is a partially schematic view in elevation of a still further embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 10 is a schematic view in elevation of still a further embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view in elevation of still a further embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view in elevation of a still further embodiment of this invention.

In Fig. 1 is shown a machine 10 for suppling or stretching sheet material, for example leather, which includes a body of flexible material 12, for example an elastomer cushion. This elastomer cushion is, for example, a roll or sheet of rubber of suitable durometer to provide the functions described in the following. Suitable rubber for such a body has, for example, a durometer rating of from 10-20 for soft leather and from 20-50 for stiffer leather. An average durometer rating for an advantageous cushion 12 is, for example, 30 durometer. Spaced projecting elements 14 are disposed adjacent the surface of body 12 and are mounted rigidly, for example, upon a supporting member 16 which is, for example, a beam or shaft. Shaft 16 is, for example, rotatably mounted with projecting elements provided by discs 14 aflixed thereto which feed the leather towards or away from the observer as the suppling operation is being performed. Shaft 16 is, for example, made of steel and discs 14 are steel discs, for example, from 7 inch to inch in thickness.

A piece of sheet material 18, for example leather, is drawn by the rotation of discs 14 into firm contact with the surface of the elastomer body 12.. The elastomer body is firmly supported on a support 20 of steel, for example, to apply a force which reacts against the contacting ends or rims 13 of projecting elements 14- to anchor the portions of the leather held between the ends 13 of the projecting elements 14 and the adjacent surfaces of body 12. Since rubber is substantially incompressible, it pushes up and exerts a force upon the leather disposed between spaced elements 14 which forces these intermediate portions of leather to assume a curve which is longer than the straight path from one projecting element to the next. This stretches these intermediate portions of the leather to a considerable extent thereby performing a highly eflicient automatic suppling operation.

In Fig. 2, a specific form of suppling machine 10a of the general type shown in Fig. 1, incorporates a rubbercovered roller 22a including a steel tube 20a covered with a rubber cushion 12a, for example, of 30 durometer rubber. A number of spaced ribs 14a are mounted upon a rotatable shaft 16a supported between a pair of columns 2411 (only one shown). Intermediate bearing supports 26a extend from a horizontal beam 28a also mounted between columns 24a to provide means for stifiening shaft 16a at intermediate points along its length. This provides adequate forceful engagement between the rubber covered roller 22a and projecting discs 14a along their entire lengths.

A piece of sheet material 18a, a leather hide or skin, for example, is drawn between drum 22a and discs 14a by simultaneous rotation of projecting elements 14a and drum 22a at the same peripheral speed. Roller 22a is, for example, positively rotated, and discs 14a rotate freely. This firmly presses the rims or ends of discs 14a against the portions of leather 18a held between discs 14a and the adjacent parts of the rubber material 12a to anchor those portions of the leather firmly between the rollers 22a and discs 14a. The parts of the skin forced between the edges of discs 14a and the rubber roll are sharply scored as shown by lines 30a clearly marked upon the surface of the leather. The pressure of the edges of discs 14a into the rubber forces this substantially incompressible material into the spaces 15a between discs 14a which appreciably stretches the strips 32a disposed between scored lines 30a. A considerable and effective suppling of the leather is thereby provided. When the appa ratus shown in Big, 2 is utilized to fully stretch or supple the leather in alldirections, the skin 18a is fed through in one directiomand then turned and fed through in another orientation, f or example, in a direction perpendicular to scored lines 30a. This effectively stretches the leather in several directions thereby efficiently softening and mellowing it without the necessity of. the application of any external pull or scraping action thereto. The firm anchoring on both sides of the stretched areas provides a stretching. action which is far more eflicient than any of the less positive stretching performed by heretofore utilized scraping techniques. 7

In Figs. 3-6 is shown a machine 10b which automatically performs. a substantially complete suppling operation upon a leather skin 18 b forexample, in a single pass. Machine 101) includes a substantially thick belt 12b of an elastomelf, 30 durometer rubber for example, which is, for example, approximately four to five feet in width. Belt 12b is supported and rotated upon a pair of steel drums 34, for example, which are mechanically rotated, for example, by means of suitable electric motors and transmissions (not shown). A series of supporting drums 36 are rotatably mounted in contact with the lower surface 38 of the upper traverse of belt 12b to provide a suitable force-resisting surface for the portions of belt 12b adjacent projecting elements which are later described. Drums 36 are, for example, effectively constructed as smooth surfaced steel rollers.

A series of rollers 40b, 42b and 44b, successively repeated in that order, are disposed along the upper surfaces of the upper traverse of belt 12b with their center lines aligned with the center lines of opposing series of supporting drums or rollers 36 disposed on the opposite surface of belt 12b.

Roller 40b includes projecting elements provided by a spiral or helical rib 46b wound about the core 48b of drum 40b. Helical rib 46b is, for example, disposed in a right hand helical orientation looking into the plane of Fig. 3. Although rib 46b is continuous, the parts which contact belt 12b constitute a series of spaced projecting elements which anchor the leather in the same manner provided by the single discs or ribs shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The spiral or helical orientation of rib 46b makes is possible to utilize successive rollers for stretching the leather skin in different directions to perform a complete suppling operation during a single pass of leather skin 1811 through the apparatus.

Roller 42binclude a helical rib 50b mounted upon a core 48b in a left hand direction relative to rollers 40b, for example, which applies a stretch in a different direction relative to that applied by rib 46b. This effectively stretches the leather in two different directionsin successiverollers 40b and 42b which is suflicient for adequate suppling. Rollers 40b and 42b are not separately rotated, for example, and, therefore, rotate at the same peripheral speed as'belt 12b.

Roller 44b is mechanically rotated, for example, by mechanically rotated pulley 52b and belt 54b, for example, at a peripheral speed higher than the speed of the peripheral speed of belt 12b. Roller 44b, as shown in Fig. 6, includes spiral ribs or blades extending from the center with opposite hand helices in each direction. The helix angle is, for example, approximately 45 which permits a multiple helix or thread to be utilized. For example, an eight-bladed or eight-threaded helix is shown in Fig. 6. These rollers, therefore, act as spreading-out or putting-out rollers'which spread the leather flat before it is fed to the next series of suppling rollers 40b and 42b for a subsequent stretching operation. In the apparatus shown-in Figs. 3-6, three separate stretching operations areperforrned with the leather flattened therebetween to 4 take maximum advantage of each successive stretching operation.

In addition, roller 44b itself may be used as a highly eflicient suppling roller in the same manner as rollers 40b and 42b if it is allowed to rotate freely, in contact with an elastomer body 12b, attthe same peripheral speed as the body. Since the angles between the right and left hand threads are great relative to the angles between threads 46b and 50b on rollers 40b and 425 respectively, the angles between the respective directions of stretch will be correspondingly greater to provide stretching in two more distinctly different directions. However, multiple-threaded rollers with threads in only one direction, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, may also be used to provide greater angles and greater differentiation in directions of stretch.

In Fig. 7 is shown another suppling machine 10c which is similar to machine 10b shown in Fig. 3 with the difierence that the body of resilient material, for example 30, durometer rubber, is supported on the surface of a supporting tube 200 which is large relative to the diameters of rollers 40c, 42c and 440 which are supported about the circumference of cylindrical roll of rubber material 12c. Rollers 40c, 42c and 440 are similar in disposition and function relative to rubber body 12c as rollers 40b, 42b and 44b are disposed relative to resilient body 12b.

A feed table 550 and a take-off table 57c are disposed at opposite sides of drum 22c and respectively include curved plates 56c and 58c which smoothly join the surface of rubber body 120 just before and after this surface enters and leaves the surface of rollers 40c, 42c and 44c. A skin 18c is, therefore, successively suppled and flattened in three Successive operations and thereby substantially completely softened and mellowed in one pass through the apparatus.

In Fig. 8 is shown a roller 40d which could be substituted for rollers 40a, 4% or 400 to provide projecting elements 14d extending into the resilient body to stretch the port-ions of the leather disposed between them. Pins 14d are studded in a distributed pattern under the surface of roller 40d.

In Fig. 9, a modification of the apparatus 10e shown in Fig. 3 is illustrated which includes a reciprocating projection means 60:: mounted above the surface of rubber belt 12e. A reciprocating means 64:: is connected to projection means 602 to move it in and out of firm engagement with resilient body or cushion 12e. A series of pins or projections 66a extend from the bottom of plate 62c which are driven successively towards and away from rubber body 12c to stretch portions of the leather held between spaced pins 66e. Body 12e is supported, for example, upon a force-resisting plate 682 which provides sufficient support to anchor the parts of the leather anchored between pins 665 and the adjacent partsof the surface of cushion 12 e to allow the leather disposed therebetween to be stretched.

In Fig. 10 is shown still another modification 10 of this invention which includes a flexible diaphragm 70f sealing a tank or pressure chamber 72). A projection means 74f including a plate 76 and projecting pins'78f is mounted a predetermined distance below the supported edge 82 of flexible diaphragm 70f. Diaphragm 70) which is, for example, made of a strong flexible material such as reinforced canvas impregnated with rubber to seal its pores, and it is large enough in area to drop below the ends of pins 78, when in the slack condition designated as 70h in broken outline. A pressure-applying device 84 for example a pneumatic or hydraulic piston arrangement, is connected to tank 72 for intermittently applying a pressure of air or water, for example, against the flexible diaphragm 70) to alternately allow it to drop into a slack condition as shown in broken line at -70 to permit theinsertion ofa leather skin 1 between e ndsfiflfrqfipins 7 f. and't surf e of diaphragm 70 and then force it into the position designated as 70] to stretch the skin 18 Reciprocating pump 84 alternately forces the diaphragm into the positions shown at 70h and 701' to first allow a skin to be placed therebetween and then to simultaneously force the diaphragm against pins 781 and into the spaces 15] between pins 78 to stretch the leather disposed between the pins.

In Fig. 11, a still further embodiment g of this invention includes a roller 22g which incorporates, for example, a roll or sheet of rubber 12g mounted upon a supporting element 20g, for example, a steel tube similar to tube 20a shown in Fig. 2. Spaced projecting elements 14g, for example, provided by discs 14g mounted upon a shaft 16g (similar to shaft 16a in Fig. 2) are mounted relative to rubber body 12g in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 1. In addition, intermediate projecting elements 90g are disposed within elastomer body 12g in line with portions of the sheet material 18g lying between spaced projecting elements 14g. These intermediate projecting elements 90g are, for example, steel discs secured, for example, by welding to tube 20g. The spaces between these discs are filled with elastomer 12g.

The presence of these intermediate substantially rigid projecting elements 90g accentuates the application of forces in between spaced projecting elements 14g to help insure the positive stretching, for example, of relatively stiff leather. 'I hese intermediate elements 90g may extend outwardly only to a short distance from the outer surface of the elastomer body 12g or may even protrude a short distance out of it, but the outer extremities or rims of 90g must be suitably formed to prevent tearing of the leather. Furthermore, the stiffness of the rubber body 12g must be great enough to provide the aforementioined anchoring forces between rims of 14g and the surface of elastomer body 12g.

In Fig. 12, a still further modification 10h of this invention employs a combination of two interlocked rollers 22h and 221, each being similar to roller 22g shown in Fig. 11. When a sheet of material 18h, leather for example, is drawn between these interlocked rollers 22h and 221', the longitudinal portions of the leather 18h disposed between the parts of the leather anchored between ends 92h, 92i and the adjacent surfaces of elastomer body 12i and 12h respectively are considerably stretched and accordingly suppled when the anchored parts move away from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the sheet material. A compound pair of rollers of this type thereby provide a highly compact and efficient suppling machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of stretching sheet material comprising the application of opposing forces which are laterally fixed relative to each other and to said sheet material in the working zone, said opposing forces being applied substantially perpendicularly to said sheet material upon opposite sides of said material in spaced zones upon one side of said material and yieldably in a continuous zone upon the other side of said material in line with and in between said spaced zones, and said opposing forces being strong enough to prevent any lateral movement of the parts of the material disposed in the path of said opposing forces which meet each other at said spaced zones and to force the lengths of said material disposed between said spaced zones out in the direction of the forces applied in said continuous zone to stretch said lengths.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet material is moved in a direction of feed, and said opposing forces are applied within a limited zone across said direction of feed for subjecting successive portions of said material to said stretching.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sheet material is successively transversed through said limited 6 zone in varying orientations to stretch it in different directions.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opposing forces are applied simultaneously over the entire area of said sheet material.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said opposing forces are applied intermittently, and the orientation of said sheet material is varied between applications of said opposing forces to stretch said material in different directions.

6. An apparatus for stretching sheet material comprising a body made of flexible material, a member incorporating spaced, substantially rigid projecting elements, motion-permitting supporting means movably mounting said body and said member adjacent each other for movement of said projecting elements and said body toward and away from each other and for forcing the portions of said flexible body disposed between those projecting elements which concurrently engage said flexible body into the spaces between said concurrently engaging projecting elements, a drive means associated with said member and said body for forcing said flexible body and said projecting elements into engagement with said sheet material interposed between them and releasing said contact, lateral coordinating means associating said projecting elements with said body of flexible material for preventing lateral movement of the engaging portions of said flexible body and said projecting elements relative to each other in at least one direction to cause parts of said sheet material held between said body and said concurrently engaging elements to be firmly anchored against movement relative to said projecting elements whereby the sections of said sheet material disposed between said concurrently engaging projecting elements are stretched when the portions of said flexible body between said concurrently engaging projecting elements are forced into the spaces between said concurrently engaging projecting elements.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said projecting elements are disposed over a continuous member, said body including said flexible material is comprised of a resilient body having a continuous surface, said motion-permitting support means includes rotating means to permit successive sections of said projecting elements to be brought into engagement with successive portions of said resilient body with said sheet material interposed between them thereby permitting successive zones of said sheet material to be fed between said projecting elements and said resilient body, and said lateral coordinating means causes the working portions of said projecting elements and the surface of said resilient body to move at substantially identical surface speeds.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said resilient body is comprised of an elastomer.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lateral coordinating means comprises laterally fixed supports for said resilient body and said member incorporating said projecting elements, and said drive means includes force-applying means for intermittently forcing said resilient body into contact with and between said projecting elements.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient body is stationarily mounted, and a reciprocating means intermittently moves said member incorporating said projecting elements toward and away from said resilient body.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flexible body is comprised of a diaphragm, said diaphragm being mounted in a predetermined plane to seal one end of a fluid-containing chamber, said projecting elements being mounted with their ends disposed a predetermined distance within said predetermined plane, said diaphragm being suflicient large in area to lie slack below the ends of said projecting elements, and pressure varying means are operatively associated with said chamher for varying the pressure within said chamber to alternately allow said diaphragm to drop below the ends of said projecting elements and to be forced against the ends ofsaid projecting elements to anchor parts of said sheet material between said ends and said diaphragm and to force the remaining portions of said sheet material a distance into the spaces between said projecting elements to stretch them.

12 An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive means positively rotates said continuous member including said projecting elements, and said supporting means allows said continuous surface of said resilient body to rotate freely in response to movement of said projecting elements.

13.- An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said resilient body is comprised of an endless belt of elastomeric composition, and force-resisting means are disposed-in contact with said endless belt in line with and on the side of said belt opposite from said projecting elements.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said projecting elements are comprised of spaced discs mounted upon a shaft.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said projecting elements are comprised of a helical ridge disposedupon a cylindrical shaft.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein projecting elements are comprised of projecting pin disposed'upon a cylinder.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said resilient body is cylindrical and is rotatably mounted upon its axis, and said projecting elements are mounted upon a cylinder which also is rotatably mounted upon its axis.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said resilient body is comprised of a cylindrical roller including a substantially rigid core and an outer section made of an elastomer.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein a series of said projecting-element cylinders are successively mounted in engagement with successive zones of 'said resilient body.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein setting-out rollers are interposed between successive projecting-element cylinders in engagement with said resilient body, and rotating means are operatively engaged with said setting-out rollers to rotate them at a peripheral speed in excess of the peripheral speed of said resilient body to flatten said sheet material as it passes from one projecting-element cylinder to the next.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein-said 8 projecting-element cylinders are comprised of cylindrical bodies including helical ridges, and said helical ridges are disposed in opposite-hand orientations in successive rollers to stretch said material successively in difierent directions,

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said body including zones of flexible material also incO PQ- rates substantially rigid intermediate projecting elements disposed in line with portions of said sheet material lying between said projecting elements, and said Zones of flexible material are disposed between said intermediate projecting elements in line with said projecting elements;

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said body including zones of flexible material is comprised of a cylindrical body including spaced intermediate projecting elements, and resilient material is disposed in the spaces between said intermediate projecting elements.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein a pair of said cylindrical bodies are provided with said intermediate projecting elements of each of said cylindrical bodies interlocked in forceful contact with the resilient material of the opposite body, and the parts of said sheet material longitudinally anchored between the ends of said projecting elements and the surface ofthe resilient material of the opposite cylindrical body are moved away-from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of said sheet material to stretch the lengths of said sheet material disposed between said anchored parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,710 Hershey Sept. 11, 1849 132,902 Cunningham Nov. 12, 1872 234,248 Coupe Nov. 9, 1880 397,821 Storch Feb. 12, 1889 975,628 McKeen Nov. 15, 1910 1,090,799 Spigno Mar. 17, 1914 1,090,895 Wayland Mar. 24, 1914 1,204,914 Wayland Nov. 14,1916 1,476,217 Pernin et a1. Dec. 4, 1923 2,109,739 Wayland Mar. 1, 1938 2,201,994 Edgar May 28, 1940 2,297,189 Ladner et al. Sept. 29, 1942 2,493,924 Mowad Jan. 10, 1950 2,596,125 Campbell May 13, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 118,440 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1918 633,093 France Oct. 18, 1927 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,956,427 .October 18, 1960 Peter A. Blatz a in theprinted specification It is hereby certified that error appear that the said Letters of the above numbered patent requiring correction and Patent should read as corrected below.

line 75, for "transverse for "sufficient" rea day of April 1961.

Column 5, d" read traversed d sufficiently column 6, line 73,

Signed and sealed this 25th (SEAL) Attest: r ERNEST W0 SWXDER DAVID L LADD Commissioner of Patents I Attesting Officer 

